Civil Marriage

Tying the Knot in Cyprus

Surrounded by the azure blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the charming island of Cyprus has become a well-loved destination for millions of people. As the mythical birthplace of Goddess Aphrodite, it is only natural that Cyprus has become known as ‘the island of beauty and love’, and as such, its air of romance attracts over 10,000 couples to the island each year to celebrate and commemorate their love, including marriages, honeymoons, anniversaries and intimate breaks.

If you are thinking about planning your dream island marriage, choosing Rideo and Cyprus will promise you and your guests an unforgettable, magical experience with cherished memories to last a lifetime.

Civil Marriage in Cyprus

Civil marriage at a municipal town hall in Cyprus is solemnised under the provision of the Cyprus Marriage Law, and is internationally valid and recognised. A civil marriage can take place between Cypriots, a Cypriot and a foreigner, or two foreigners. Same-sex couples can also have their relationships recognised through civil unions.

The civil marriage in Cyprus can be contracted in one day only provided that the applicants had submitted their documents earlier and their application was approved by the Town Hall authorities.

The Rideo Group has long-term experience in flawless civil marriage planning. We are very proud of our professional approach to every single one of our cases, and for the personal touch and tailored service that each couple receives from us.

Document requirements for civil marriage in Cyprus

If a couple intends to have a civil marriage at a Cypriot municipal town hall, both bride and groom must provide us with valid identification documents at least 15 days prior to the date. Booking for the ceremony, however, can be done within three months of the event.

In special or urgent circumstances our marriage coordinators will do their best to arrange your wedding within 2-3 days or even the same day! Please note that in this event availability will depend entirely on the municipality.

Documents for submission

1. 1. Valid Passport and/or National ID for both spouses
   2. Marital Status Certificate (Certificate of Singleness, Certificate of Bachelorhood, Non impediment certificate)
   3. In the case of divorce, the original or a certified copy of the final divorce paper translated to English (except if in Greek) must be provided, along with the certificate issued by the appropriate authority (Registry Office, Ministry of Interior, Embassy, etc.) confirming the divorced marital status.
   4. In the case of widowhood, the death of spouse certificate translated to English (except if in Greek), and the certificate from the official authority (Registry Office, Ministry of Interior, Embassy, etc.) confirming the widower/widow marital status is required.
      All the above certificates should feature an Apostille seal. Please check whether your country is a party to the Apostille Hague Convention.

5. An affidavit from the local court is signed by the couple up on arrival in Cyprus.

Download the list of required documents

Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon

Our civil marriage coordinators have particular competence in legal documents and will offer you full support and consultancy on every step of the way to ensure that the arrangement for your special day goes smooth and accurate.

All the legal documents necessary for contacting the official marriage in Cyprus should be issued by the appropriate governmental authorities, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, a licensed solicitor, etc. and must be presented within three months from the date of issue.

The documents issued in the countries of EU can be submitted without further legalisation.

Documents issued in the countries members which signed the Hague convention for Apostille should be stamped by the Apostille. Please see the list of countries here

The documents issued in the third countries which are not the members of Apostille convention should be legalised by:

• The Ministry of Interior or the other official authorities where document was issued (Civil Registry office, court etc.)
• In the ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of issuance
• The Embassy or consulate of Cyprus in the country of issuance
• The legal documents (single status certificate, divorce paper) which issued in foreign language other than English should be translated into English in the licensed bureau for translations.

Any couple who intends to get married should secure the appointment for their marriage in the municipality. Once a couple provide us with all required documents (scanned copies can be sent by email), our marriage coordinators submit the paperwork to the town hall for the approval.

The procedure of documents examination takes up to 3 working days. When the application is approved the couple choose the preferred date for their marriage. The day and time is scheduled according to the availability in the municipality.

On the day of the marriage the couple should appear personally in the town hall and be able to present all the original document. Please notice that the failure to submit original documentation will lead to the cancellation of a marriage. Therefore, if couple travels from abroad, we strongly advise that all wedding documents to be carried on person or in the hand luggage. This is to better deal with any unexpected inconvenience, such as delayed or missing baggage.

The civil marriage ceremony lasts 15-20 minutes. Before signing the official documents in the municipality it is important that a couple check carefully all the details like name, passport number, date of birth etc. entered to the marriage certificate.

Couple require to have the two witnesses for the marriage who have to present a valid passport or any other identity card. In case if a couple has no witnesses we can provide you with necessary signatures.

After the ceremony is over the original marriage certificate issued to couple instantly.

Important note

• Please note that the marriage procedure and document requirements may vary depending on the nationality of applicants.
• If either party is not of Cypriot or other EU nationality, a valid visa and relevant airport stamps may be required by the Marriage Officer.
• If either party has a Cypriot temporary residence permit (i.e. is not of Cypriot or other EU nationality but ra foreign employee, student, etc.) a marriage license from the Ministry of Interior is required.
• If either the bride or groom is under 18 years of age, the parental presence or written proof of parental consent is required. The written consent must be translated into English and stamped and signed by a solicitor, licensed attorney, or notary.
• Citizens who entered Cyprus from the occupied part of the island (Turkish side) may be rejected in providing civil marriage services since the entrance to the country from the occupied territory is considered to be an illegal entry to the Republic of Cyprus.